Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-07-30
4 FRONTIER HERO.

My first introduction 10 Dakota was
hsr,ily one 10 impress either-tiiat is, The
territory or myself-wIth any very great
king for the other. But we were both
Young AT that time, and Dakota, AT least, G.,
has greatly improved.
Ii WAS early in the '.0S-fifreen wears
ago-that found myself on Missouri
river steamboat leaving Omaha and headed
up stream. was not altogether clear aS
10 whore | WAS going. but | had m idea
that would stay by the boat as long as
my money held out-whiCh would mot he
very k,nS. hoped at least TO reach Da-
kots. Not that had any particular
reason for going To Dakota more than 10
Texas; but on the other hand had Texas
been As near l should certainly have been
as apt 10 have gone there.
About all i knew-Or any one else, for
that matter-concerning Dakota was that
Iankton, in the extreme southeastern
part was the capital, and that there WAS
. little settlement in that region. a little
more in the northeastern corner, with per
haps a very few scattering settlers along
the rivers elsewhere aud a number Of
forts. each with few United States troops
The reason that | came 10 think | was
going to explore the west WAS that several
weeks before ] had run away from home
with that determinatlon-not a very good
reason, but the only one | had Nv
reason for running away from home was
even less obvious But | was away and
too pI oud 10 go back-though subsequent
event reduced my stock of pride several
hundred per cent.-lf l may he allowed TO
put II somewhat strongly. | was almost
bcyinning 10 consider myself a man.
though | have since looked back at the
time calmly. and could not remember that
anybody else ever acted a. if he consid-
ernd me anythipg more than boy.
On the occasion Of which ! write the
boat Sadie Bolton plowed her way up the
thick. muddy waters Of the Missouri The
mate sworc at the deck hands as occasion
required, the pilot swore at the river, the
engineer swore at the fireman and pilot
by turns, and the captain occasionally ap-
peared and swore at things in general
Being OF an inquiring turn Of mind.
explored the lower deck and got into con
!Ursation with one of the crew From
him learned that Buck Hawk kins WAS on
board. / had heard of Buck IIaw kins
as the most dangerous man in that part
Of the country. He stsid up the river IN
the neighborhovd OF lankton most of the
time, but | understood from my inform
ant had been down 10 St Louis on some
sort of business and WAS returning TO
Yankton | felt anxious 10 see him as
soon ~ | found he WAS on board The
man told me | doubtless could do so if /
would take the trouble 10 hunt up the bar.
As he and some friends were indulsing in
a poker game in the immediate vicinity
soon found the place, and 10 my whis
pered inquiry spectator informed me
which Of the four gathered around the
card table was Hawkins | was some
what surprised, as he did not look rs |
had pictured him. He was small, not
over five feet and seven or eight inches,
and evidently weighed less than $50
pounds He had brown hair and gray
eyes, and although his face showed deter
mination and force. there was nothing of
the reckless desperate which | knew he
had the reputation Of being. | watched
the game for some time. l learned that
the other three were all professional gam
blers and that Hawkins was losing The
room was full of spectators. as il seemed
TO possess interest for every one Oh the
boat. Everybody expected trouble
There were great stacks OF chips and
money on the table and Hawkins and the
gambler opposite him each had a heavy
six shooter lying on the table in front Of
him, while the Others had similar weapons
in their belts. Every one knew that the
gamblers were not playing square
game, and that il Was only IA question of
time when they got all of Hawkins
money. That was the time trouble was
expected. He had been drinking heavily,
and should he detect them Cheating il
was known he would not hesitate to
shoot them all unless they shot him first
All the Afternoon | remained close by
the table watching the game intently.
had become almost as much interested as
the players. Hawkins money was slowly
but surely going. Once when Hawkins
was dealing he happened To touch pile
Of his chips and they rolled OFF on the
floor. Instantly ! sprang and gathered
them up and placed them on the table
He Just glanced at me and said Thank
you," and was deep i'll the game again
A few minutes later there was jack pot
Hawkins and the gambler went in They
raised each other Till there was several
thousand dollars in it At last they laid
down their hands. Hawkins had four
kings, but the gambler had the four aces,
Anu ftatfleu ibE i1t filpiitN anu CHIPS.
Il reckon that was all fair, parsons'
said Hawkins a. he looked across the table
81 his opponent
''Ye bet il was. Buck; We know ncver
play no other way" replied the gambler.
showing some signs of NERVOUSNESS
I'm glad of il, SAID Hawkins picking
up his revolver and holding it carelessly,
''ye all know what Id 10 If thought it
wasn't
shoot. OF course. Buck, that would be
all righr-hut it's squar an We can bet
on it
''AIl right" and Hawkins arose from
the table and Went out. | saw nothing
more OF him that night
The next day he approached me on deck
and talked a few minutes. lie guessed
that had run away from home and ad
yised me To return, saying that il was no
country for boys. ! could scarcely con-
ceive Rs be gave me this advice, which |
knew TO be good, that he had without
doubt killed dozen men-perhaps more.
But il was a fact
Hawkins left the boat at Sioux City and
l went on TO Iankron. The next five or
six weeks 1 spent in the vicinity Of that